5 Things I Learned Renting a Luton

I found myself renting a Luton recently to finish my move and in doing so; I learned a few things. To be clear, I’m absolutely not a car person and definitely not a van person. Driving is in no way a pleasurable or fun experience for me. It is a necessary evil in certain situations. I write this post not in a position of expertise but from a position of experience from an anxious driver taking the wheel of one of the behemoths for the first (and hopefully only) times. The hope that in doing so, you find something a little funny and a little informative.

#1) What a ‘Luton’ Actually Is

Okay, so, when I say I was ignorant; I mean to the extent that I didn’t really know what a Luton even was.

I mean, it didn’t take long for me to suss out that ‘big-ass’ van was the actual answer but doing the research I found out more. I learned that it is:

• The biggest van you can drive on the standard UK license.
• Named after the town in Bedfordshire.
• Original designed to accommodate large quantitates of lighter, boxed, stackable goods.
• Can carry weight of around 600kg.
• Also described as a ‘box van’ because of its shape.
• The Luton is a type of van and not specifically a model as many manufacturers offer their own Lutons.

Finally, I realised that this van is iconic in the world of vans. Still doesn’t mean I like them though (or cars) but at least I know what one is now I guess and what they mean when they talk about it.

#2) Familiarise Yourself with the Dashboard Before Setting Off

This is true of any vehicle of course and you should always do so.  Renting a Luton van is no different.

It’s a good job that I did!

I found that the positions of a few controls were very out-of-sync with the cars I’ve driven and that would have been problematic if I’d had to deal with the lights whilst on the road and not found them where I expected. In honesty, I did fail to check where the fan was and was heavily sweating (and swearing) for some of the drive though.

#3) There is a Height Restriction

This seems kind of obvious and that is because it is. However, the height can be misleading. Knowing there is one, isn’t the same as knowing what it is.

We learn quite young that you can’t stick something big, through something that is too small. In our lives we find ourselves reminded of this every once in a while but when you don’t want to be reminded of it is at the entrance of a crowded car park, with cameras and queues and non-stop beeping. Now, on top of this, imagine being unable to get the van in reverse (turns out there’s a knack to the gearstick) and having to take the handbrake off, move the wheel and push the (very) heavy van. It’s a horror.

I guess what I am saying is that your spatial awareness in the van’s cab isn’t complete and it can lead to issues.

#4) Finding a Place to Park One in Some Towns is a Nightmare

Let’s say that you find a car park with an accessible entrance, great! That doesn’t mean that it will allow the van or that you’ll even be able to maneuver the thing around. These car spots are often tightly packed and don’t allow vehicles larger than their spaces. What’s more is that in trying to do so you might block people in.

Doing research of where you can park ahead of time helps a great deal!

#5) The Blind spots are a Real Concern

There isn’t a rear view mirror on the van, how could there be. The side mirrors are amazing and cover a lot and you’re usually good when driving (unless a driver behind you is being reckless) but it is an actual concern when parking, especially in smaller car parks (which are best to avoid by the way, road parking is much more preferable if an option).

I learned the hard way that the wrong angle and you can easily miss something as large as a car. Your usual blind spot checks just wont do (the shape is different and the same windows don’t exist).